EP3228505A1 - Appareil de protection d'occupant - Google Patents

Appareil de protection d'occupant Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3228505A1
EP3228505A1 EP17163319.1A EP17163319A EP3228505A1 EP 3228505 A1 EP3228505 A1 EP 3228505A1 EP 17163319 A EP17163319 A EP 17163319A EP 3228505 A1 EP3228505 A1 EP 3228505A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
occupant
seat
belt
airbag
protection apparatus
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP17163319.1A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3228505B1 (fr
Inventor
Kazuki SUGIE
Masanobu Ohmi
Seiji Yamamoto
Yoshiaki Matsumura
Kosuke SAKAKIBARA
Misato KINOSHITA
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Toyota Motor Corp
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Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of EP3228505A1 publication Critical patent/EP3228505A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3228505B1 publication Critical patent/EP3228505B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/20—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
    • B60R21/207—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components in vehicle seats
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R21/013—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R21/013—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
    • B60R21/0134—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle, e.g. using radar systems
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R21/015—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats, and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use
    • B60R21/01512—Passenger detection systems
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R21/015—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats, and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use
    • B60R21/01512—Passenger detection systems
    • B60R21/01544—Passenger detection systems detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment
    • B60R21/01548—Passenger detection systems detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment sensing the amount of belt winded on retractor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
    • B60R21/233—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R2021/003—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks characterised by occupant or pedestian
    • B60R2021/0039—Body parts of the occupant or pedestrian affected by the accident
    • B60R2021/0048—Head
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R2021/01013—Means for detecting collision, impending collision or roll-over
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R2021/01034—Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R2021/01204—Actuation parameters of safety arrangents
    • B60R2021/01211—Expansion of air bags
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R2021/01204—Actuation parameters of safety arrangents
    • B60R2021/01252—Devices other than bags
    • B60R2021/01265—Seat belts
    • B60R2021/01272—Belt tensioners
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R21/013—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
    • B60R2021/01315—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over monitoring occupant displacement
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R21/013—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
    • B60R2021/01317—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over monitoring seat belt tensiont
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/20—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
    • B60R21/207—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components in vehicle seats
    • B60R2021/2074—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components in vehicle seats in head rests
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
    • B60R22/34—Belt retractors, e.g. reels
    • B60R22/46—Reels with means to tension the belt in an emergency by forced winding up
    • B60R2022/4685—Reels with means to tension the belt in an emergency by forced winding up with means to adjust or regulate the tensioning force in relation to external parameters

Definitions

  • Preferred embodiments relate to an occupant protection apparatus.
  • U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0015642 discloses a structure where a hood is stored inside a cover disposed in the upper portion of a seat back, and the hood receives a supply of gas from an inflator and becomes deployed to thereby cover the upper body of an occupant.
  • an airbag is stored in a head rest or a seat back of a vehicle seat, with the airbag becoming inflated and deployed so as to cover the head of an occupant from the seat front side and both the right and left sides.
  • the airbag becomes inflated and deployed so as to cover the head of an occupant from the seat front side and both the right and left sides.
  • an object of preferred embodiments to provide an occupant protection apparatus which, in a configuration where an airbag is stored in a head rest or a seat back, can prevent the airbag, as it is being inflated and deployed, from interfering with the head of the occupant.
  • the lap belt restrains a pelvic region of the occupant and the shoulder belt restrains an upper body of the occupant, and the belt take-up mechanism applies tension to the webbing.
  • the control unit that, in the event that an impact to the vehicle has been predicted or detected, activates the belt take-up mechanism before inflating and deploying the airbag.
  • the airbag is stored in the head rest or the seat back of the vehicle seat. Additionally, the airbag is inflated and deployed from the head rest or the seat back by a supply of gas. Furthermore, the airbag is formed as a single bag that includes the front inflating part and the right and left pair of lateral inflating parts, and covers the head of the occupant, so the airbag restricts movement of the occupant (restrains the occupant) with respect to various types of crashes and protects the occupant.
  • the belt take-up mechanism that applies tension to the webbing is disposed in the three-point seat belt device, and, in the event that an impact to the vehicle has been predicted or detected, the control unit activates the belt take-up mechanism before inflating and deploying the airbag. Because of this, the airbag inflates and deploys in a state in which tension has been applied to the webbing and the upper body of the occupant is moved toward the seat back, and the head of the occupant can be prevented from being far outside a range of protection of the airbag as the airbag is being inflated and deployed.
  • An occupant protection apparatus of a second aspect of the disclosure includes the first aspect, wherein the airbag is inflated and deployed after a predetermined amount of the shoulder belt has been taken up by the belt take-up mechanism.
  • the upper body of the occupant is away from the seat back before the activation of the belt take-up mechanism, by taking up the predetermined amount of the shoulder belt the upper body of the occupant can be moved toward the seat back before the inflation and deployment of airbag.
  • An occupant protection apparatus of a third aspect of the disclosure includes the first or second aspect, and further includes a tension relaxing mechanism which, when the tension acting on the shoulder belt after the inflation and deployment of the airbag becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value, relaxes the tension.
  • discomfort of the occupant caused by tightening the shoulder belt can be reduced by using the tension relaxing mechanism to relax the tension in the shoulder belt. Furthermore, even in a case in which the tension in the shoulder belt has been relaxed, the upper body of the occupant is supported by both the shoulder belt and the airbag, and so the ability to protect the occupant can be ensured.
  • An occupant protection apparatus of a fourth aspect of the disclosure includes any one of the first to third aspects, and further includes a build detection sensor that detects a build of the occupant seated in the vehicle seat, wherein, in a case in which the build of the occupant detected by the build detection sensor is larger than a predetermined value, the control unit activates the belt take-up mechanism at an earlier stage than in a case in which the build of the occupant is not larger than the predetermined value.
  • the build detection sensor detects the build of the occupant, and, in a case in which the build of the occupant is larger than the predetermined value, the control unit activates the belt take-up mechanism at an early stage to apply tension to the webbing.
  • the control unit activates the belt take-up mechanism at an early stage to apply tension to the webbing.
  • An occupant protection apparatus of a fifth aspect of the disclosure includes any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the front inflating part is equipped with portions that inflate at the seat front side of shoulders of the occupant, with one portion being positioned at one side in a seat width direction where the occupant is restrained by the shoulder belt and with another portion being positioned at the other side in the seat width direction, and the other portion is inflated and deployed to a position closer to a shoulders of the occupant than the one portion.
  • the other portion of the front inflating part that inflates at the seat front side of the shoulder the shoulder is positioned at the other side (the opposite side to the restraining side) in the seat width direction and is not restrained by the shoulder belt, becomes inflated and deployed to a position close to the shoulder. Because of this, the shoulder that is positioned at the one side in the seat width direction is restrained by the shoulder belt, and the shoulder that is positioned at the opposite side to the restraining side and that is not restrained by the shoulder belt is restrained by the other portion of the front inflating part, and so the restrained state of the occupant can be well maintained.
  • An occupant protection apparatus of a sixth aspect of the disclosure includes the fifth aspects, wherein, among the portions of the front inflating part that inflate at the seat front side of the shoulders of the occupant, the other portion at the other side in the seat width direction has a larger capacity than the one portion at the one side in the seat width direction.
  • the other portion positioned at the other side in the seat width direction becomes inflated and deployed to a larger extent than the one portion positioned at the one side in the seat width direction. Because of this, the ability to restrain the shoulder, that is positioned on the other side (the opposite side to the restraining side) in the seat width direction and that is not restrained by the shoulder belt, can be improved.
  • An occupant protection apparatus of a seventh aspect of the disclosure includes the fifth aspect or the sixth aspects, wherein, among the right and left pair of lateral inflating parts, a lateral inflating part positioned at the other side in the seat width direction becomes inflated and deployed at an earlier stage than a lateral inflating part positioned at the one side in the seat width direction where the occupant is restrained by the shoulder belt.
  • the shoulder that is positioned at the opposite side to the restraining side and that is not restrained by the shoulder belt can be restrained at an early stage.
  • An occupant protection apparatus of an eighth aspect of the disclosure includes the seventh aspect, wherein the cross-sectional area of a gas flow path, through which the gas flows into the lateral inflating part positioned at the other side in the seat width direction, is larger than the cross-sectional area of another gas flow path, through which the gas flows into the lateral inflating part positioned at the one side in the seat width direction.
  • the gas can be supplied first to the lateral inflating part positioned at the other side in the seat width direction by means of a simple configuration.
  • cross-sectional area here means the cross-sectional area of the space through which the gas flows.
  • An occupant protection apparatus of a ninth aspect of the disclosure includes any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the lateral inflating parts become inflated as a result of the gas being supplied thereto via the front inflating part.
  • the gas is supplied to the front inflating part before it is supplied to the lateral inflating parts, so the front inflating part inflates first and the lateral inflating parts inflate thereafter.
  • inertial movement of the occupant in the vehicle forward direction can be restricted as a result of the front inflating part inflating first, and the head of the occupant can be restrained from both the right and left sides as a result of the lateral inflating parts being inflated thereafter.
  • An occupant protection apparatus of a tenth aspect of the disclosure includes any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein lowers ends of the lateral inflating parts are adapted to contact, in the inflated and deployed state, shoulders of the occupant.
  • the airbag can be positioned in the vertical direction relative to the occupant as a result of the lower ends of the lateral inflating parts contacting the tops of the shoulders of the occupant.
  • tension can be applied to the webbing by the belt take-up mechanism regardless of the direction the vehicle seat faces.
  • the belt take-up mechanism inside the seat back at the one side (the restraining side) in the seat width direction, tension can be applied directly to the shoulder belt. Furthermore, by placing the inflator at the other side in the seat width direction on the opposite side of where the belt take-up device is placed, space for placing the inflator can be ensured without having to increase the size of the seat back.
  • the occupant protection apparatus achieves the superior effect that effectively prevents the airbag as it is being inflated and deployed from interfering with the head of the occupant compared to a configuration where the airbag is inflated and deployed right after the belt take-up mechanism has been activated.
  • the occupant protection apparatus achieves the superior effect that reduces discomfort of the occupant while ensuring restraining ability.
  • the occupant protection apparatus achieves the superior effect that effectively restrains both shoulders of the occupant.
  • the occupant protection apparatus achieves the superior effect that, compared to a configuration where the right and left inflating portions of the front inflating part that inflate at the seat front side of the shoulders of the occupant have the same capacities, improves the ability to restrain the shoulder that is positioned at the opposite side to the restraining side and that is not restrained by the shoulder belt.
  • the occupant protection apparatus achieves the superior effect that inflates and deploys at an early stage, by means of a simple configuration, the lateral inflating part at the opposite side to the restraining side.
  • the occupant protection apparatus achieves the superior effect that, compared to a configuration where the front inflating part and the lateral inflating parts become inflated and deployed at the same time, improves restraining ability while prevents the airbag as it is being inflated and deployed from interfering with the head of the occupant.
  • the occupant protection apparatus achieves the superior effect that prevents the airbag as it is being inflated and deployed from interfering with the head of the occupant regardless of the direction the vehicle seat faces.
  • the occupant protection apparatus achieves the superior effect that the belt take-up device and the inflator can be placed inside the seat back without having to increase the size of the seat back.
  • arrow FR and arrow UP appropriately shown in the drawings indicate a forward direction (the direction a seated occupant faces) and an upward direction, respectively, of a vehicle seat 12.
  • arrow IN appropriately shown in the drawings indicates a central side in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle in which the vehicle seat 12 is installed.
  • the occupant protection apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is installed in a vehicle seat 12.
  • the vehicle seat 12 is placed offset to either the right or left side (the left side in the present embodiment) of a vehicle width direction center of a body of an automobile not shown in the drawings.
  • the seat forward and rearward direction of the vehicle seat 12 coincides with a forward and rearward direction of the vehicle
  • the seat width direction of the vehicle seat 12 coincides with a vehicle width direction.
  • the vehicle seat 12 is configured to include a seat cushion 14, a seat back 16 whose lower end is connected to a rear end of the seat cushion 14, and a head rest 18 disposed on an upper end of the seat back 16.
  • FIG. 1 shows a state in which a crash test dummy D, serving as a model of an occupant to be protected, is seated on the seat cushion 14 of the vehicle seat 12.
  • the dummy D is, for example, World Side Impact Dummy (WorldSID) AM50 (representing a 50th percentile American adult male).
  • the dummy D is seated in a standard sitting posture determined by crash test procedures, and the vehicle seat 12 is positioned in a standard set position corresponding to the sitting posture.
  • the dummy D will be called "the seated occupant D.”
  • the occupant protection apparatus 10 is configured to include a multidirectional airbag device 20 for protecting the seated occupant D from various types of crashes, a side airbag device 22, a seat belt device 24, and an electronic control unit (ECU) 60 serving as a control unit.
  • a multidirectional airbag device 20 for protecting the seated occupant D from various types of crashes
  • a side airbag device 22 for protecting the seated occupant D from various types of crashes
  • an electronic control unit (ECU) 60 serving as a control unit.
  • the seat belt device 24 is a three-point seat belt device and includes a belt (webbing) 28.
  • One end of the belt 28 is taken up by a retractor 26 in such a way that the belt 28 can be pulled out from the retractor 26, and the other end of the belt 28 is anchored to an anchor 24A.
  • a tongue plate 24T is slidably disposed on the belt 28, and the seated occupant D puts on the belt 28 by causing the tongue plate 24T to engage with a buckle 24B.
  • the belt 28 is configured to include a shoulder belt 28S and a lap belt 28L.
  • the shoulder belt 28S extends from the retractor 26 to the tongue plate 24T and restrains the upper body of the seated occupant D
  • the lap belt 28L extends from the tongue plate 24T to the anchor 24A and restrains a pelvic region P of the seated occupant D.
  • the seat belt device 24 is an in-seat seat belt device where the retractor 26, the anchor 24A, and the buckle 24B are disposed in the vehicle seat 12. Furthermore, the retractor 26 is equipped with a pretensioner 64 serving as a belt take-up mechanism which, upon being activated, forcibly applies tension to the belt 28. The pretensioner 64 is activated by the later-described ECU 60. Moreover, a belt winding amount detection sensor 66 that detects the winding amount of the belt 28 is disposed in the retractor 26 (see FIG. 7 ).
  • a tension relaxing mechanism 65 that relaxes the tension acting on the belt 28 is disposed in the retractor 26 (see FIG. 7 ).
  • the tension relaxing mechanism 65 there can be used a mechanism where, when the tension acting on the belt 28 becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value, a shaft that takes up the belt 28 becomes screwed to relax the tension acting on the belt 28.
  • the tension relaxing mechanism 65 there may be used a mechanism where the belt 28 is folded over and sewn and, when the tension acting on the belt 28 becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the sewn section comes undone to relax the tension.
  • the side airbag device 22 is configured to include an inflator 22A and a side airbag 22B.
  • the side airbag device 22 is stored in a vehicle width direction outer side portion of the seat back 16 in a state in which the side airbag 22B is folded up.
  • the inflator 22A when activated, generates a gas inside the side airbag 22B.
  • the side airbag 22B becomes inflated and deployed, by this gas, on a vehicle width direction outer side of the seated occupant D so that the side airbag 22B projects forward from a side portion of the seat back 16.
  • the side airbag 22B inflates and deploys on the vehicle width direction outer side of the pelvic region P, an abdomen A, a breast B, and a shoulder S of the seated occupant D.
  • the multidirectional airbag device 20 includes a multidirectional airbag 30 serving as an airbag, an inflator 32, and a module case 34 that configures the head rest 18.
  • the multidirectional airbag 30 is folded up and stored inside the module case 34 in a state in which the inflator 32 is connected to the multidirectional airbag 30 so that the inflator 32 can supply the gas to the multidirectional airbag 30.
  • the multidirectional airbag device 20 modularized in this way is disposed in the head rest 18 on top of the seat back 16. The multidirectional airbag device 20 will now be specifically described below.
  • the multidirectional airbag 30 is configured as a single bag that becomes inflated and deployed so as to cover a head H of the seated occupant D (hereinafter sometimes simply called "the head H") from the front and both the right and left sides. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B , the multidirectional airbag 30 includes a front deploying part 36, which becomes deployed in front of the head H, and a pair of lateral deploying parts 38, which become deployed on both the right and left sides of the head H.
  • the front deploying unit 36 includes a mesh part 40, which serves as a visible structure that becomes deployed directly in front of the head H, and a front inflating part 42, which becomes inflated and deployed surrounding the mesh part 40 as seen in a front view.
  • the mesh part 40 has a substantially rectangular shape as seen in a front view
  • the front inflating part 42 has a substantially rectangular frame shape whose inner peripheral edge is joined to the mesh part 40.
  • the front inflating part 42 receives a supply of gas to become inflated and deployed.
  • the section of the front inflating part 42 surrounding the mesh part 40 mainly on the upper side of the seat back 16 is a first inflating portion 42A that becomes inflated and deployed in front of the head H.
  • the section of the front inflating part 42 positioned below the first inflating portion 42A (coinciding with the seat back 16 as seen in a front view) is a second inflating portion 42B that becomes inflated and deployed in front of the breast B and the shoulders S of the seated occupant D.
  • the second inflating portion 42B is supplied with gas through the first inflating portion 42A.
  • the section of the first inflating portion 42A positioned below the mesh part 40 is sectioned off by a seam 42S from the other section of the first inflating portion 42A and is supplied with gas through the second inflating portion 42B.
  • each of the lateral deploying unit 38 includes a lateral inflating part 44, which receives a supply of gas to become inflated and deployed on the side of the head H, and a seam portion 46, which serves as a non-inflating portion that extends along the vertical direction and sections the lateral inflating part 44 into front and rear sections.
  • Each of the lateral inflating parts 44 has a size (area) that covers the entire head H as seen in a side view, and the seam portions 46 section the lateral inflating parts 44 into front and rear sections at locations of the lateral inflating parts 44 coinciding with the head H.
  • the multidirectional airbag 30 in the inflated and deployed state becomes positioned in the vertical direction relative to (the head H of) the seated occupant D as a result of the lower ends 44L of the lateral inflating parts 44 contacting the shoulders S in this way.
  • the multidirectional airbag 30 has an upper deploying unit 48 that interconnects the upper edges of the front deploying unit 36 and the right and left lateral deploying units 38 and becomes deployed above the head H of the seated occupant D.
  • the upper deploying unit 48 includes mainly an upper inflating part 50 that receives a supply of gas to become inflated and deployed.
  • the upper inflating part 50 includes a central inflating portion 50C, which becomes inflated and deployed above the head H, and a pair of upper duct portions 50D, which serve as duct portions and extend along the forward and rearward direction on the right and left sides of the central inflating portion 50C.
  • the central inflating portion 50C includes an inflating portion 50C1, which forms the upper edge of the front inflating part 42, and an inflating portion 50C2, which is sectioned off by a seam portion 50S1 from the inflating portion 50C1.
  • the inflating portion 50C2 is sectioned into front and rear sections by a seam portion 50S2.
  • Both the right and left ends of the inflating portion 50C1 are communicated with the upper duct portions 50D, and the seat width direction central portion of the rear edge of the inflating portion 50C1 is communicated with the inflating portion 50C2.
  • the front ends of the right and left upper duct portions 50D are communicated with both the right and left side edges of the upper end of the front inflating part 42.
  • the rear deploying unit 52 described above can be divided into a base portion 52A, which becomes inflated and deployed in back of the head rest 18, and a connecting portion 52B, which becomes inflated and deployed above the head rest 18.
  • the base portion 52A is supported at its lower end by the seat back 16 via the inflator 32 and the diffuser 55, and the connecting portion 52B interconnects in a communicated state the base portion 52A and the upper deploying unit 48.
  • the multidirectional airbag 30 in the inflated and deployed state while in a non-restraining state in which the seated occupant D is not restrained, as seen in a side view does not coincide with (overlap) the side airbag 22B, that is also in the inflated and deployed state while in a non-restraining state for the seated occupant D.
  • the multidirectional airbag 30 and the side airbag 22B do not have inflated and deployed sections that overlap each other at least as seen in a side view, in their inflated and deployed states while in the non-restraining states.
  • the multidirectional airbag 30 does not, as also seen in a front view, coincide with the side airbag 22B.
  • the multidirectional airbag 30 that is inflated and deployed as described above has the flat shape (flat pattern) shown in FIG. 6 before it is folded up.
  • the multidirectional airbag 30 having this flat shape is made as a single bag by one-piece-woven (OPW) technology. It should be noted that the multidirectional airbag 30 may also be made as a single bag by a method (cut and sew) where the peripheral edges of two textiles are sewn together.
  • a combustible or cold gas inflator is employed for the inflator 32.
  • the inflator 32 supplies, to the inside of the multidirectional airbag 30, the gas which is generated upon being activated.
  • the inflator 32 is a cylindrical inflator and is placed with its longitudinal direction coinciding with the seat width direction inside the module case 34.
  • the activation of the inflator 32 is controlled by the later-described ECU 60 serving as a control device.
  • the head rest 18 is configured to include a head rest body 19 and the module case 34, which is placed on the seat rear side of the head rest body 19.
  • the head rest body 19 configures the front portion of the head rest 18 and is placed on the seat rear side of the head H of the seated occupant D.
  • the head rest body 19 is attached to the seat back 16 via a head rest stay 18S.
  • the head rest stay 18S interconnects the head rest body 19 and the seat back 16 in the seat vertical direction, and an upper portion 18SU of the head rest stay 18S is positioned further in the forward direction than a lower portion 18SL of the head rest stay 18S supported in the seat back 16.
  • the lower portion 18SL and the upper portion 18SU are interconnected by a sloping middle portion 18SC thereby forming the head rest stay 18S.
  • the module case 34 which is placed on the seat rear side of the head rest body 19, is a backboard configuring a design face of a rear portion of the head rest 18. Consequently, the multidirectional airbag 30 is stored in the rear portion of the head rest 18.
  • the module case 34 as seen in a front view projects upward beyond the upper end of the head rest body 19 and sticks out on both sides in the seat width direction in relation to the head rest body 19. That is, the module case 34 covers the head rest body 19 from the rear. In the present embodiment, the module case 34 covers the rear portion of the head rest body 19 from above and from both the right and left sides, and configures the design face of the rear portion of the head rest 18 as described above.
  • the module case 34 includes mainly a base portion 34B, a main wall 34M serving as a rear wall, and a right and left pair of side walls 34S.
  • the base portion 34B abuts the upper end of the seat back 16.
  • the main wall 34M extends upward from a rear end of the base portion 34B.
  • the main wall 34M is forwardly tilted in such a way that its upper end is positioned further in the forward direction than its lower end, and the main wall 34M has a curved shape that becomes convex rearward and upward as seen in a side view. Furthermore, the main wall 34M as seen in a front view projects upward beyond the upper end of the head rest body 19 and sticks out on both sides in the seat width direction in relation to the head rest body 19.
  • a space for housing the multidirectional airbag 30 in the folded-up state is formed between the main wall 34M and the head rest body 19. Furthermore, the multidirectional airbag 30 as it is being inflated and deployed goes between the upper end portion of the main wall 34M and the head rest body 19. In the inflated and deployed state of the multidirectional airbag 30, the rear deploying unit 52 goes between the upper end portion of the main wall 34M and the head rest body 19.
  • the pair of side walls 34S extend forward from both seat width direction ends of the main wall 34M and cover the rear portion of the head rest body 19 as seen in a side view. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3A , in the inflated and deployed state of the multidirectional airbag 30, the lateral deploying units 38 (the sections near the boundaries with the rear deploying unit 52) go between the pair of side walls 34S and the head rest body 19.
  • the multidirectional airbag 30 in the folded-up state is stored between the module case 34 described above and the head rest body 19. Furthermore, the inflator 32 is fastened to a seat back frame by stud bolts together with the multidirectional airbag 30 and the base portion 34B of the module case 34.
  • the lateral deploying units 38 are folded inside the roll at the stage when the front deploying unit 36 and the upper deploying unit 48 are outer-roll-folded.
  • a deployment guide cloth 58 is folded up together with the multidirectional airbag 30 and stored inside the module case 34. Additionally, the deployment guide cloth 58 is led outside the module case 34 in accompaniment with the inflation and deployment (unrolling) of the multidirectional airbag 30, and becomes deployed, between the multidirectional airbag 30 and a ceiling of the automobile in advance of the deployment of the multidirectional airbag 30. Furthermore, the coefficient of friction of the deployment guide cloth 58 with respect to the multidirectional airbag 30 is smaller than that with respect to the ceiling material of the automobile.
  • the surface of the deployment guide cloth 58 on the cabin ceiling side is coated with silicone, and the surface of the deployment guide cloth 58 that contacts the multidirectional airbag 30 is a low-friction surface not coated with silicone.
  • the multidirectional airbag device 20, the side airbag device 22, and the seat belt device 24 that configure the occupant protection apparatus 10 are controlled by the ECU 60 serving as a control device.
  • the ECU 60 is electrically connected to the inflator 32 of the multidirectional airbag device 20 and the inflator 22A of the side airbag device 22.
  • the ECU 60 is electrically connected to the retractor 26 of the seat belt device 24.
  • the ECU 60 is electrically connected to a crash prediction sensor 62 such as a pre-crash sensor and a crash sensor 63 (or sensor group).
  • the belt winding amount detection sensor 66 disposed in the retractor 26 is, for example, able to detect the take-up amount of the belt 28 by detecting the rotational amount of a spool that takes up the belt 28. Additionally, the winding amount of the belt 28 detected by the belt winding amount detection sensor 66 is transmitted to the ECU 60.
  • the ECU 60 can predict, for each type of crash described later, that various types of frontal impacts to the automobile are unavoidable on the basis of a signal from the crash prediction sensor 62. Furthermore, the ECU can predict that a side impact to the vehicle is unavoidable on the basis of a signal from the crash prediction sensor 62.
  • the ECU 60 When a frontal crash has been predicted on the basis of a signal from the crash prediction sensor 62 or detected on the basis of a signal from the crash sensor 63, the ECU 60 activates the pretensioner 64 before inflating and deploying the multidirectional airbag 30. Because of this, tension is applied to the belt 28 to restrain the seated occupant D against the seat back 16. Thereafter, the ECU 60 activates the inflator 32. Because of this, the multidirectional airbag 30 becomes inflated and deployed in the seat forward direction. It should be noted that the types of frontal crashes in which the ECU 60 activates the inflator 32 are a full-overlap frontal crash and an offset frontal crash.
  • the ECU 60 activates the pretensioner 64 before inflating and deploying the multidirectional airbag 30 and the side airbag 22B. Because of this, tension is applied to the belt 28 to restrain the seated occupant D against the seat back 16. Thereafter, the ECU 60 activates the inflator 22A and the inflator 32.
  • the frontal impact to a position offset a predetermined value or more to one side in the vehicle width direction includes an oblique crash and a small overlap crash.
  • An oblique crash is a crash from an oblique forward direction defined by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), for example, such as a crash where the relative angle with the crash partner is 15° and the amount of overlap in the vehicle width direction is about 35% as an example.
  • NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  • a small overlap crash is a type of car frontal crash where, for example, the amount of overlap in the vehicle width direction with the crash partner as defined by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is 25% or less.
  • a crash on the vehicle width direction outer side of a front side member that is a vehicle body skeleton corresponds to a small overlap crash.
  • a small overlap crash at a relative velocity of 64 km/hr is envisioned.
  • FIG. 8 shows an activation sequence of the ECU 60 at the time of a frontal impact in which the side airbag 22B is not inflated and deployed.
  • step S200 the ECU 60 determines whether or not a crash has been predicted or detected. Specifically, in a case in which a frontal impact has been predicted by the crash prediction sensor 62 or in a case in which a frontal impact has been detected by the crash sensor 63, the ECU 60 moves to step S202. If the determination is NO, then the ECU 60 repeatedly acquires the signals from the crash prediction sensor 62 and the crash sensor 63. It should be noted that, in the case of a vehicle not equipped with the crash prediction sensor 62, the ECU 60 acquires only the signal from the crash sensor 63 and determines only whether or not a crash has been detected.
  • step S202 the ECU 60 activates the pretensioner 64 disposed in the retractor 26. Because of this, tension is forcibly applied to the belt 28 to move the seated occupant D toward the seat back 16 and restrain the seated occupant D.
  • step S204 the ECU 60 determines whether or not a predetermined amount or more of the belt 28 has been taken up.
  • the ECU 60 determines whether or not the winding amount of the belt 28 detected by the belt winding amount detection sensor 66 (see FIG. 7 ) is greater than a preset amount.
  • the ECU 60 moves to step S206.
  • step S206 the ECU 60 activates the inflator 32 of the multidirectional airbag device 20. Because of this, gas is supplied to the multidirectional airbag 30 so that the multidirectional airbag 30 becomes inflated and deployed.
  • the front deploying unit 36 becomes deployed in front of the head H
  • the pair of lateral deploying units 38 become deployed on both the right and left sides of the head H
  • the head H of the seated occupant D becomes covered from the front and both the right and left sides.
  • the multidirectional airbag 30 becomes inflated and deployed after the predetermined amount of the belt 28 has been taken up by the pretensioner 64.
  • step S208 the ECU 60 determines whether or not the tension acting on the shoulder belt 28S is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. If the tension acting on the shoulder belt 28S is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the ECU 60 moves to step S210. Furthermore, if the determination is NO, the ECU 60 ends the process.
  • step S210 the ECU 60 activates the tension relaxing mechanism 65 (see FIG. 7 ) disposed in the retractor 26 to thereby relax the tension acting on the belt 28.
  • the upper body of the seated occupant D is restrained by both the shoulder belt 28S and the multidirectional airbag 30. Then, the ECU 60 ends the process.
  • the pretensioner 64 that applies tension to the belt 28 is disposed, and the pretensioner 64 is configured to be activated before the multidirectional airbag 30 is inflated and deployed. Because of this, the multidirectional airbag 30 becomes inflated and deployed in a state in which tension has been applied to the belt 28 to pull the upper body of the seated occupant D against the seat back 16. As a result, the head H of the seated occupant D can be prevented from being far outside the range of protection of the multidirectional airbag 30 as the multidirectional airbag 30 is being inflated and deployed, and the multidirectional airbag 30 can be prevented from interfering with the head H of the seated occupant D.
  • the multidirectional airbag 30 is stored inside the module case 34 configuring the head rest 18. For this reason, compared to a configuration where a gas supply pipe is placed so as to surround the head of the occupant from above and normally projects into the cabin, an equivalent or greater ability to protect the occupant is ensured and the visual attractiveness of the occupant protection apparatus 10 before activation is good. Furthermore, the occupant protection apparatus 10 (mainly the multidirectional airbag device 20) does not hinder forward and rearward position adjustment, height adjustment, and reclining of the vehicle seat 12.
  • a multidirectional airbag 74 configuring a multidirectional airbag device 72 of the present embodiment is equipped with a front deploying unit 78 configured to include a mesh part 40 and a front inflating part 80.
  • the front inflating part 80 includes a first inflating portion 80A, which becomes inflated and deployed along the upper edge and both the right and left side edges of the mesh part 40, and second inflating portions 80B and 80C, which are continuous with the lower side of the first inflating portion 80A on the right and left sides.
  • the second inflating portion 80B is positioned at a vehicle width direction outer side. That is, the second inflating portion 80B is positioned at one side (restraining side) in the seat width direction where the seated occupant D is restrained by the shoulder belt 28S. Furthermore, the second inflating portion 80C is positioned at a vehicle width direction central side. That is, the second inflating portion 80C is positioned at another side (the opposite side to the restraining side) in the seat width direction. Furthermore, the second inflating portion 80B and the second inflating portion 80C are both portions that inflate on the seat front side of the shoulders S of the seated occupant D and are mutually independent inflating and deploying portions on either side of a non-inflating portion 80D.
  • the second inflating portion 80C positioned on the opposite side to the restraining side becomes inflated and deployed to a position closer to the shoulders S than the second inflating portion 80B positioned on the restraining side.
  • the second inflating portion 80C has a larger capacity than the second inflating portion 80B and has a larger inflated thickness in the forward and rearward direction than the second inflating portion 80B. Because of this, the shoulder S of the seated occupant D that is positioned on the opposite side to the restraining side and is not restrained by the shoulder belt 28S is restrained by the second inflating portion 80C, and the shoulder S on the shoulder belt 28S side is restrained by the second inflating portion 80B.
  • the front ends of the right and left lateral inflating parts 44 are communicated with the lower ends of the first inflating portion 80A of the front inflating part 80.
  • the cross-sectional area of a gas flow path between the lateral inflating part 44 positioned on the opposite side to the restraining side and the front inflating part 80 is larger than the cross-sectional area of the gas flow path between the lateral inflating part 44 on the restraining side and the front inflating part 80.
  • the gas from the inflator 32 first flows into the lateral inflating part 44 on the opposite side to the restraining side, so that the lateral inflating part 44 on the opposite side to the restraining side becomes inflated and deployed at an earlier stage than the lateral inflating part 44 on the restraining side.
  • the second inflating portion 80C that inflates on the seat front side of the shoulder S, that is positioned on the opposite side to the restraining side and that is not restrained by the shoulder belt 28S, becomes inflated and deployed to a position closer to the shoulders S than the second inflating portion 80B on the restraining side. Because of this, inertial movement of the shoulder S that is not retrained by the shoulder belt 28S can be restricted, and the restrained state can be well maintained.
  • the second inflating portion 80C positioned on the opposite side to the restraining side has a larger capacity than the second inflating portion 80B positioned on the restraining side, so the second inflating portion 80C becomes inflated and deployed to a larger extent than the second inflating portion 80B. Because of this, the ability to restrain the shoulder S on the opposite side to the restraining side can be improved compared to a configuration where the second inflating portion 80B and the second inflating portion 80C have the same capacities.
  • the shoulder S on the opposite side to the restraining side can be restrained at an early stage by inflating and deploying at an early stage the lateral inflating part 44 positioned on the opposite side to the restraining side.
  • a part of the upper body, positioned at the opposite side to the restraining side of the seated occupant can be effectively prevented from moving due to inertia at the time of an impact to the vehicle or when the vehicle suddenly brakes.
  • the gas can be supplied first to the second inflating portion 80C by means of a simple configuration.
  • the present invention is not limited to the configurations described above and is of course implementable in a variety of ways in addition to the configurations described above.
  • the activation timing of the pretensioner 64 may also be changed in accordance with the build of the seated occupant D.
  • a build detection sensor is disposed so that the build of the seated occupant D can be detected.
  • a weight sensor disposed inside the seat cushion 14 may be used as the build detection sensor.
  • a method may also be employed where the build of the seated occupant D is detected by calculating the size of the seated occupant D as recognized by an optical camera or the like. Furthermore, these methods may also be combined.
  • step S201 is disposed between step S200 and step S202 in the flowchart of FIG. 8 .
  • step S201 the ECU 60 determines whether or not the build of the seated occupant D is larger than a preset condition.
  • step S201 In a case in which it has been determined in step S201 that the build is larger than the preset condition, the ECU 60 moves to step S203 and activates the pretensioner 64 at an early stage. Furthermore, if the determination is NO, the ECU 60 moves to step S202 and activates the pretensioner 64 at the normal timing (the same timing as in the first embodiment). Usually more time is needed to restrain an occupant with a relatively large build against the seat back 16 than an occupant with a relatively small build after tension is applied to the belt 28.
  • step S203 by activating the pretensioner 64 at an early stage in step S203, it can be made easier to move the head of even an occupant with a relatively large build to the range of protection of the airbag 30 by the time the multidirectional airbag 30 inflates and deploys. That is, the restraining ability of the occupant protection apparatus can be ensured regardless of the build of the occupant.
  • the inflator 32 is stored in the head rest 18, but the inflator 32 may also be stored in the seat back 16.
  • the gas can be smoothly supplied to the multidirectional airbag 30 by storing the inflator 32 upright and an end portion in which the gas discharge opening is disposed faces upward (toward the head rest 18).
  • the inflator 32 in a configuration where the retractor 26 and the pretensioner 64 are placed inside the seat back 16 on the seat left side (the one side in the seat width direction; the restraining side) where the seated occupant D is restrained by the shoulder belt 28S, it is preferred that the inflator 32 be stored on the seat right side. In this case, the inflator 32 becomes stored on the opposite side of the retractor 26 and the pretensioner 64 in the seat width direction, and space for placing the inflator 32 can be ensured without having to increase the size of the seat back 16.
  • the occupant protection apparatus is equipped with the side airbag device 22, but the present invention may also have a configuration where the occupant protection apparatus is not equipped with the side airbag device 22. Furthermore, even when the occupant protection apparatus is equipped with the side airbag device 22, the occupant protection apparatus may also be configured to be equipped with a side airbag device disposed in a side door or the like. Furthermore, an example is described where the occupant protection apparatus is equipped with the side airbag device 22 on the vehicle width direction outer side, but the occupant protection apparatus may also be equipped with a side airbag device placed on the vehicle width direction central side instead of, or in addition to, the side airbag device 22 on the vehicle width direction outer side.
  • the seat width direction of the vehicle seat 12 coincides with the vehicle width direction, but the present invention is not limited to this.
  • the vehicle seat 12 may also be obliquely placed in relation to the vehicle body, and the direction the vehicle seat 12 faces may also be changeable (rotatable about a vertical shaft).
  • a configuration equipped with the multidirectional airbag 30 that becomes inflated and deployed so as to surround the head H of the seated occupant D can contribute to good protection of the head H.
  • the multidirectional airbag 30 before it is inflated and deployed is stored in the head rest, so it is difficult for the multidirectional airbag 30 to interfere with cabin interior surfaces and vehicle constituent parts, and changing the direction the vehicle seat 12 faces in relation to the vehicle body is not impeded.
  • the present invention is not limited to this.
  • the present invention may also have a configuration disposed with a transparent sheet serving as a visible structure instead of the mesh part 40, and may also have a configuration that does not include a visible structure.
  • the multidirectional airbag 30 is outer-roll-folded, but the multidirectional airbag 30 may also be folded up in another way, such as accordion-folded, and stored in the head rest 18 or the seat back 16.
  • the seat belt device 24 of the first and second embodiments is an in-seat seat belt device where the retractor 26, the anchor 24A, and the buckle 24B are disposed in the vehicle seat 12, but the seat belt device 24 may also have a configuration where the retractor 26 is attached to a center pillar.
EP17163319.1A 2016-04-04 2017-03-28 Appareil de protection d'occupant Active EP3228505B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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JP2016075386A JP6631369B2 (ja) 2016-04-04 2016-04-04 乗員保護装置

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CN107284393B (zh) 2020-05-29
JP2017185873A (ja) 2017-10-12
CN107284393A (zh) 2017-10-24
JP6631369B2 (ja) 2020-01-15
EP3228505B1 (fr) 2019-02-13
US20170282834A1 (en) 2017-10-05
US10471918B2 (en) 2019-11-12

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